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Florence Veterans Honor Guard Saturday conducts annual Veterans Memorial Tribute

Florence Morning News - 4/9/2018

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Florence Veterans Honor Guard delivered military honors Saturday for 29 veterans who didn't receive them at the time of their burial at Florence National Cemetery.

"Honorably serving men and women who have passed away without receiving a nation's formal demonstration of gratitude still deserve that recognition," according to the program handed out at the ceremony. "The Veterans Memorial Tribute Program is dedicated to honoring all of them."

"It is the hope at the National Cemetery that all veterans buried here are buried with full military honors," said Jim Maurer, Florence Veterans Honor Guard member, as he presided over the ceremony. "Unfortunately that doesn't always happen. for one reason or another we do have veterans who are laid to rest here without the honor."

The names of veterans to honor are collected throughout the year, said Carolyn Howard, director of the national cemetery.

"We don't ask because the funeral homes they hire coordinate military honors. We check with them, the funeral homes, the day before, and ask if military honors are coordinated," Howard said. If there aren't honors scheduled, Howard said, she or another member of the staff asks if they can add the veteran's name to the list that is honored annually.

As Maurer read the names out guard member Joe Woodbury rang the bell - 29 times.

Following the reading of the names a rifle salute was delivered, taps was sounded and a flag-folding ceremony was conducted with the folded flag presented to Gold Star Mother Audrey Mayers.